I Prefer Paris

The Battle of Somme by Thirza Vallois

Last Friday, July1, was the 100th anniversary of The Battle of Somme, the most important battle of WWI. Historian and author Thirza Vallois has written extensively and lectured about WWI for several years. Thirza has written an informative article commemorating the historic battle.

It was a beautiful day on the Somme that 1st July 1916, the most beautiful day of that summer so far, sunny and cloudless, with just a hint of mist on the meadows at day break, reported Siegfried Sassoon.  "The weather was the kind commonly called heavenly" he wrote, "The skylarks were singing as they flew heavenwards and unknown to them thousands of our soldiers were on their way there too".  They would first have to be baptised by the fire of hell. At 7.30am, the blue heavens over the Somme Valley made way to a deluge of lead and iron, the skylarks to an Apocalypse of guns, smoke and fire. The worst disaster in the history of British warfare was about to commence and Paradise lost to an entire generation of young British men. This was the beginning of the Battle of the Somme.  

They came to France as volunteers initially, from England and from all corners of her Empire, for King, Country and Empire, chivalrous some, out to defend a decent world against the bullying Hun and his tyrant of a Kaiser, Wilhelm II. These were often the educated ones -  the Public Schools Battalions - Oxbridge graduates and such, out on a crusade for the defence of civilisation. Others came for the adventure, for the thrill beyond the sea, away from the rote of daily life; others still for comradeship, entire communities from Northern England in the main, Scotland and Ireland too, "pals" excited to fight together in the same battalions, innocently sailing arm-in-arm to France. They were so young, so easily taken in by the prevailing propaganda, playfully recreating an underground London in the trenches — White City, Bond Street, Park Lane..., whimsically renaming soon-to-be deadly battlefields  Mash Valley, Sausage Valley...

The Offensive was preceded by a seven-day unrelenting artillery barrage. At zero hour, it was presumed, the German defence would have been wiped out, the men would sweep over No Man's Land unhindered and climb up the ridge to capture the German positions. It all seemed so simple. Instead the Germans, far from wiped out, were comfortably installed in their deep dugouts. If shadows of doubt ever crossed the minds of the High Command, they preferred to brush it aside.  "Nothing could exist at the conclusion of the bombardment" said General Rawlinson, who headed the Somme operation. Yet Lt Cl Sandys, who had noticed that the German wire had not been cut, spent sleepless nights over his misgivings.  His Second Middlesex were to advance through the above mentioned Mash Valley, a vast No Man's Land situated in a depression. To the left it was exposed to the Ovillers Spur, ahead to 750m-high ground, and to the right to the Bapaume-Albert road. Sandys suspected the Germans were dug in along those elevated positions, but was unheeded. Wounded on the first day of the battle and evacuated to England, he would take his own life the following September.

The Germans knew an attack was underway. On the eve of the Offensive, General Rawlinson's final message to the troops was transmitted by phone at La Boisselle and intercepted by the Germans, informing them the attack was imminent. The next morning, at 7.28am, as a final preliminary two minutes ahead of the attack, a series of mines were exploded under the Germans, at La Boisselle, Fricourt and other locations, seventeen in all. Preparing this had been a seven-month job, undertaken by one of the army's Tunnelling Companies, its men largely drawn from Welsh coal-mining communities. The resulting craters, it was reckoned, would produce huge "lips" that would offer the attackers protection as they launched their assaults. For whatever reason, disregarding the general order, the local commander at Beaumont-Hamel, on the northern edge of the battlefield, advanced the detonation to 7.20, sending up into the air a stupendous mountain of dark dust, which kept rising and rising, then hanging on suspended above the skyline before falling back upon itself and petering out into a gigantic crater.  Recorded for posterity (and visible on the internet) by war cinematographer, Geoffrey Malins, this famous scene was edited into his "Battle of the Somme", which was screened in picture houses all over Britain and believed to have been viewed by half the population. In real life, they say the roar could be heard in England. It could certainly be heard by the Germans, as well as be seen! From their elevated positions and the safety of their dugouts, they were set for curtain-rise and for action to begin.

Imagine the consequences:  the men marching on in broad daylight through the vast no-man's-land, erect and spaced out in orderly rows, as instructed, burdened by 60lb of equipment and slowed down by thick barbed wire (which the British artillery had failed to eliminate). Unknowingly, they made perfect targets, easy to mow down. When the shooting started - so sudden and unexpected -, baffled, stunned, bewildered, terrorised, they had no time to mentally process what was happening and nowhere to take shelter. An archive photo shows them as tiny creatures twisting, writhing in a thick screen of smoke, not unlike insects caught in a cobweb. Many were caught by another camera huddled like foetuses inside shell holes. And then came the sudden awareness that they were trapped, that there was no going back like a coward (and risking being shot), nor forward towards certain death.  Perhaps the cruellest realisation was that they had been cheated, that they had been promised it would be a walkover, that the Hun would be smashed by the evening.    

But their superiors had been terribly misguided - the Joffres and the Haigs who were men of the 19th century, unprepared for the tactics of modern warfare. Britain, moreover, had been predominantly a naval power, with only a small mobile army. At the outset of the war, the British Expeditionary Force numbered around 80,000 soldiers, the German and French armies over a million each. However, it had the advantage of being entirely professional and better trained. "With God's help I feel hopeful," Haig wrote in his diary. "The men are in splendid spirits." Lt Cl Sandys's misgivings did not fit into this optimistic picture and he was overruled. Yet on that first day of the attack, Captain Alan Habury-Sparrow "saw the Germans almost standing up in their trenches, well over the top, firing and sniping at those who had taken shelter in the shell holes..."  Of the 120,000 men deployed along the 45km-long front at 7.30 in the morning, 58,000 were down by the evening, 20,000 of them dead. 60% of the officers serving on the British side were killed on that day. In Habury-Sparrow's 8th Division alone, which was fighting in Mash Valley, there were 5,121 casualties, 1,900 dead. Sandys' 2nd Middlesex lost almost 600. Worse was to befall the Newfoundlanders.

No place on the memorial trail of the Somme captures the heavenly morning described by Sassoon better than the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel, inaugurated by Earl Haig in 1925. Covering a 74-acre area, it is the largest memorial area in the Somme and the largest battalion memorial on the Western Front, purchased with great effort by the women of Newfoundland to secure the battlefield in perpetuity. It encompasses the battlefield where the Newfoundlanders fought and died, with a rare well-preserved trench system, and several memorials and cemeteries. Stepping in transports you to a patch of Canada, with a visiting centre evocative of a fishing village.

In 1914 Newfoundland was not part of Canada but a British dominion, 60% of its population still born in Britain. Enthusiastically patriotic, 8,000 from a population of just under 250,000, volunteered to enlist under British command, part of the British 29th Division here in the Somme. Although they had already fought in Gallipoli, following some rudimentary training in England, "the blue putties" as they were nicknamed were unprepared for the German artillery on the Western Front. When the “Hawthorn” mine was exploded at 7.20am, it ripped a hole in the German lines, but it also alerted them to the imminence of the attack. Consequently, at 8.45, when the Newfoundlanders went over and began to advance up the slope, the Germans had already poured out of their dugouts, at the ready on the defensive lines, waiting for them to reach the top of the ridge. Within fifteen minutes they were all but annihilated.  Out of 753 men at the beginning of the attack, 68 were present at the roll call the following day, not one officer among them. The Memorial Monument — a bronze Caribou surmounting a rocky mound covered with heather — is where their aborted offensive began on the morning of that fateful July 1st,, 1916.

Thirza Vallois is also a travel writer and has written the best selling books Around and About Paris, and Aveyron, A Bridge to French Arcadia.

http://www.thirzavallois.com

British memorial at Thiépva

Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont Hamel

I've happy to announce Eye Prefer Paris Tours has been nominated by Expatriates Magazine for Best Tour in Paris. I would greatly appreciate it for you would vote for me. Click here to vote.

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.

 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

  Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 195 euros per person (about $210)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

A Room with a View

Today is a guest post about short term rental apartments with great views of Paris.

With the Euro still very low and fine weather on the way, now is the time to plan your trip to France. Why not this spring, with a view of Paris?

The coming months are a wonderful time to visit the City of Light. Warmer temperatures, flourishing public gardens, long days make spring the perfect time for a long overdue visit to Paris. Early in the morning and late in the day, at meal times, aperitif time or do-nothing and relax time, you will relish enchanting views of Paris from the private terrace of your own apartment or houseboat.

A 2 bedroom/2 bath is the heart of Saint Germain-des-Prés, 6^th arrondissement

The French doors of the master bedroom on the top floor of this triplex open directly to the terrace with views of Paris rooftops and monuments.

Below, a 2 bedroom/2 bath in the St. Germain-Latin Quarter of Paris, 5^th arrondissement. Savor splendid views of the neighborhood, Notre Dame Cathedral and other medieval landmarks such as St Julien-le-Pauvre and St. Severin. This is “le coeur de Paris”.

A Third Room with a View, France: Homestyle, Inc. suggestion: a large houseboat on the Seine river, right bank, 1^st arrondissement. It is moored across from the Orsay Museum, steps to Jardin des Tuileries. Houseboat Concorde is near Le Louvre. This is the ultimate in views and relaxation. Let the magic of Paris surround you, day and night.

France:Homestyle [email protected]

Around and About Paris: Palais Royal

Thirza Vallois, my friend and author of the best selling guide books Around and About Paris was inspired by my Palais Royal bench photos from earlier this month and has contributed an excerpt today about the Palais Royal from her book.

Richard Nahem’s pictures of Paris always warm my heart. So much so that on a couple of occasions I asked him to accompany my articles with his photos.  I relished in particular the photos he took of the benches of the Palais-Royal gardens.  His play on colours is sheer delight.  The benches of Paris are iconic, home to  innumerable budding love stories, as illustrated by poet/singer George Brassens in his no les iconic “Les amoureux des bancs publics” which I translated into English  to be included in my book, Romantic Paris, so important are they in the city’s lore. In the gardens of Paris, they alternate with those heavy metal chairs, as they do indeed in the Palais Royal where they (or their ancestors) have offered comfort to some of France’s celebrities for over three hundred years. You may enjoy them being mentioned in the following celebration of the Palais Royal adapted from a walk devoted to the Palais Royal, excerpted from my Around and About Paris books :

“Between 1784 and 1830, the Palais Royal was the bustling centre of both intellectual and dissolute Paris. famous for its “soupers” during the Regent’s light-hearted rule — veritable bacchanalia. The arcade with its shops as still to be seen, date from his grandson, Philippe d’Orléans, Duc de Chartres and father of the future king Louis Philippe. Deep in debt, he turned the Palais Royal into a profitable business, lining the gardens with cafés, restaurants, game houses and brothels where whores and courtesans converged from all over Paris, 'faire le Palais' as the saying went, witness Casanova who rushed here upon his arrival in Paris. The Duke’s new line of activities generated a huge profit for the Duke but was hardly to the taste of Louis XVI: ‘Cousin,’  said the King disdainfully, ‘you have turned shopkeeper and no doubt we shall see you only on Sundays’. In 1793, having espoused the Revolution, the Duke became known as Philippe-Egalité and went as far as to vote for the execution of his cousin the King (whom some claimed he had hoped to replace). The guillotine, however, took charge of him too, a few months after the execution of the King.

The writer and philosopher Denis Diderot was among the great minds of France who frequented the cafés and restaurants of the Palais Royal.  In his superb book, Le Neveu de Rameau, the fictitious, beggarly, parasitical, yet delightfully worldly nephew of the composer Rameau tells us that the celebrated Café de la Régence (now the site of 161 rue Saint-Honoré south of the somewhat shrunken Palais Royal) was the Mecca of chess players. On wet days, when Rameau’s nephew could not meditate on one of the benches in the garden, he would step into La Régence and watch a good game of chess. ‘Paris is the place in the world, and the Café de la Régence the place in Paris where the game is best played,’ he tells us, and this is no fiction. François André Danican-Philidor, composer and co-founder of the Opéra Comique, and world chess champion, would take on the world’s best chess players simultaneously at La Régence, and beat them one by one mercilessly. Diderot’s preference, however, went to Légal ‘the deep’. Philidor ‘the subtle’ annoyed him with his chess activities. Diderot thought he should develop his musical talent rather than waste his time ‘pushing little wooden pieces on a chessboard’. In 1794 Napoleon shared a wretched existence between a grotty hotel on today’s rue d’Aboukir and Café de la Régence where he too spent time moving wooden pieces on a chessboard, rehearsing for the showdown on the chessboard of Europe and the Middle East soon to come.


The Michelin-star Grand Véfour is the only survivor of those times, then Café de Chartres (after the Duke) as still carved in the stone. Magnificently revamped in the post-Revolution years of the Directoire (1795 - 1799), it has preserved its interior with all its friezes, painted panels and ceilings, infinitely multiplied by mirrors. Thank goodness it escaped being blown up by angry Left wingers in 1983. Brass plates mark the names of the historical celebrities who dined here, General Bonaparte and Victor Hugo among them. For the best view, reserve the corner table used by the writer Colette who lived at the Palais Royal in the 1950s, at no. 9 rue de Beaujolais. By then the Palais Royal had become an enclosed world of outdated serenity, the  social centre of Paris having shifted to the Grands Boulevards a century earlier.

‘In the morning we went out for a breath of fresh air — cat, bulldog and me — on the garden chairs, uncomfortable armchairs of a venerable age […] I like to think that a magic spell preserves, at the Palais Royal, everything that collapses and lasts, everything that crumbles and doesn’t alter.’ She goes on to describe some of the silent citizens of the enclave, the elderly lady leaning on her stick, the gentleman cultivating little cacti on his window sill, the little boy who might one day lay a marble in the palm of your hand, or the old lady who might read out to you the ode she had written for Victor Hugo. And Jean Cocteau of course,  her admiring neighbour at 36 rue de Montpensier, who called her ‘a fountain of ink’ and would drop in on her ‘en voisin’ and referred to the Palais Royal as la campagne en plein centre de Paris’ (the countryside in the very heart of Paris’). I am not quite sure how he or Colette would have welcomed the posthumous addition of Daniel Buren’s striped columns, or the presence of day trippers and tourists. If you are courageous enough to head here early in the morning, you can still capture some of the old atmosphere of their times.

Thirza Vallois is the author of the Around and About Paris series, Romantic Paris and Aveyron, A Bridge to French Arcadia.

Visit also her website: www.thirzavallois.com

Follow my new Instagram account parisian_doors

I post photos of my famous Parisian doors every day

 

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.

 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

 

 Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 195 euros per person (about $210)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Sightseeing in Paris: Where to Go for Off Beat Awesomeness

Today is a guest post by Adam Zulawski

When’s the last time you were in Paris? If it’s longer than you’d like to admit, then perhaps you should brush up with what’s le super cool right now in the French capital.

Below we’ve listed the perfect selection for a mix of touristy fun and cultural sophistication… We hope, anyway.

WHERE TO GET LOST

 Canal Saint Martin

Canal St Martin in the 20th Arr. is the area where all the young street artists like to dawdle and start up hand-crafted tech companies specializing in bespoke microbrews. Yes, it’s the Williamsburg of Paris, and like its NYC cousin, Canal St Martin is full of great bars and cafes. It’s almost too easy to while a whole day away here, but some folk can’t help themselves – us included. 

La Promenade Plantee

New York’s High Line was seen as a hip and innovative use of public space back when it opened in 2009, but it wasn’t an original idea. It was based on La Promenade Plantee in Paris, a 4.7km stretch of overground rail that opened in 1993. Lovingly renovated to make use of the vistas and scenery it threads through, with tasteful plants, decking and benches, the promenade makes for a destination in itself as it snakes from Bastille to Bois de Vincennes.

Pere Lachaise Cemetery

This grand old cemetery in the 20th Arr. hosts many famous residents including Edith Piaf, Frederic Chopin, Jim Morrison, Honore de Balzac, Marcel Proust, and Oscar Wilde. Many of the stunning designs and crumbling tombs date back over 200 years, making for an enchanting place to explore.

WHERE TO EAT

Laduree

Super fancy tea and cakes in Paris are synonymous with Laduree, a boutique tea room chain that began in 1862 with a locale in Rue Royale. They specialize in so-called macarons, which are essentially multi-coloured meringues, but you can get actual meals too. These exquisite eateries can get rather busy though at peak meal times so it’s best to try for brunch or a late lunch.

Brasserie Lipp

This Saint Germain institution has had so many important and influential people cross its threshold that it’d be silly to even begin to list them all. Having opened in 1880, Brasserie Lipp has rules about not using your phones to maintain the original Belle Epoque atmosphere while you have a drink or enjoy its Alsatian cuisine.

WHERE TO SHOP

Merci

Located in the Marais, Merci at times feels more like a gallery than a shop, what with the ever-changing installations that hang about the place. But that just makes this fashionable concept store appealing even for those people who aren’t interested in buying things.

Fleux

The massive Fleux in the 4th Arr. has everything you might possible want for the interior of your home, as long as you want only the hippest and most cutting-edge bric-a-brac in all of France.

Hotel Amour

Hotel Amour has gained notoriety over the years for its famous clientele, and if you fancy yourself as somebody a bit ooh la la then it might be the place for you too.

Generator Hostel

A cheaper option but no less impressive. Generator has possibly the chicest hostel dorms in the northern hemisphere, and you can even stay in a private room with a balcony if you prefer – there’s a massive 916 beds in total, so everybody’s catered for. It’s a stone’s throw from the nightlife of Saint Martin, but there’s a bar and a nightclub on the premises if you don’t feel like stepping outside.

WHERE TO GET CULTURED

Shakespeare and Company

This curious second-hand bookshop specializing in English-language books has a proud tradition tied in with literary greats such as William S Burroughs and Henry Miller. Every Monday evening it hosts free readings from published authors. Shakespeare and Company’s unique atmosphere and history make it a popular haunt in the Latin Quarter, the student area of old on the Left Bank. It’s a short distance from other enlightened highlights such as the Sorbonne and the Pantheon, as well as Le Procope, a restaurant frequented by Voltaire and Rousseau in the 18th century.

The Espace Dali

The Espace Dali is an art museum in Montmartre dedicated to Salvador Dali. As well as its permanent collection of around 300 works and its temporary exhibitions, there are workshops for kids so they too can get to grips with the moustachioed egg-obsessed seer.

The Orangerie

The Louvre is just too massive and daunting to warrant anything other than several days’ dedication, so for a more concentrated dose of French artistry the Musee de L’Orangerie. Not only does it house some of the most famous French painters’ works, but it’s surrounded by the stunning and iconic Tuileries Garden.

WHERE TO TAKE IN THE VIEW

Le Perchoir

Le Perchoir is a rooftop club that is open from 2pm on weekends, making it an ideal spot to relax. It helps that there are mattresses everywhere. You can stay on for the partying later in the evening, but then your view from 14 Rue Crespin du Gast won’t be quite as clear. This is a fifteen minute walk from Pere Lachaise Cemetery too.

Le Georges au Centre Pompidou

The Pompidou Centre’s high-tech edifice famously houses a top-notch collection of modern art behind all those exterior escalators. One of the best things about this Parisian institution though is the restaurant on the sixth floor, Le George, where you can relax with a tipple while looking out towards Notre Dame and the Marais.

WHERE TO PARTY

Club Le Baron

Located in the 8th Arr., Club Le Baron is considered to be one of the top party venues in Paris. Open daily from 11pm until 6am, it offers a cosy atmosphere drenched in the venue’s previous history as a brothel. Le Baron’s revelry can get raucous, especially when a band is playing.

Raspoutine

Possibly the reddest club in Paris, Raspoutine is where the jet set party into the early hours. Its sultry décor and discerning clientele demand you dress to impress, but not necessarily in the style of the mad monk himself.

Cheapflights to Paris gives you more money to spend on the above wonders of the city.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 195 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.

 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

 

 

 

City Getaways:Paris

Today is a guest post about a short getaway in Paris.

Paris is known as one of the most iconic cities in the world and is popular with couples looking to get away for a romantic weekend break. With a great nightlife and hundreds of different tourist attractions, France’s capital has plenty to keep you occupied during your stay. If you are looking to soak up some culture whilst you are there, The Louvre is a must visit. Boasting over 35,000 different art exhibitions and being one of the world’s largest museums, the iconic gallery gets around 9.7 million visitors each year. The Louvre is also home to probably the most famous painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, so it well worthwhile going. Paris also has great attractions such as the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and a whole host of different museums based around the city.

The city’s most iconic monument however is the Eiffel Tower, a sight known by nearly everyone around the world. Standing at around 300m, the Tower was completed in 1889 and held the record of the world’s tallest building until 1930. Tourists are allowed to go up on walk out on the 3 different floors and gaze out over the city from the very top, enabling them to get the best views of Paris and get some excellent photos. The tower is also a popular location for marriage proposals, so if you are looking to ask your partner the big question on your break, take the Eiffel Tower into consideration.

France is famed for its great wine industry, with the countryside filled with specialist vineyards exporting wine all over the world. So why not try out some great wines at the Millesiwine Wine Tasting bar, located at 16 rue des Plantes. Both private and group sessions are available to book, with a wide variety of fantastic French wines on offer for patrons to try. The tour guide is an encyclopedia of wine knowledge, educating visitors on everything from vinos to chardonnays, as well as selecting specialist cheeses to go with each wine. The venue also offers an excellent menu of food which can be enjoyed after the tasting, so the Millesiwine is a great place to get a real Parisian experience.

As well as all these great attractions, Paris also boasts a fantastic nightlife. With a mass amount of different bars, clubs and restaurants, the city has enough to cater for the needs and likes of all its visitors. When you think of casinos in France, you would usually think of Monte Carlo the sovereign city-state of Monaco, but Paris has a fantastic array of casinos for tourists to visit. Aviation Club de France is a small casino located in the city, and is home to 20 different cash tables, ranging from poker to blackjack. But if you are looking for something larger, the Casino Barrière d’Enghien-les-Bains is definitely for you. Based just outside of the city centre, there are 500 different tables and slot machines to play on and has both English and French roulette wheels.

New Venue for My Photos
I have been invited by a café to display my photos, so if you missed seeing them at my show last month they will be up till November 3.

Café Petit Luxe
29 rue Vaugirard, 75006
Metro: St. Sulpice
Open Monday-Friday 8:30AM-9:30PM,Saturday 8:30AM-6PM

   New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

 

 

 

Perugino, Maitre de Raphael: Perugino, Raphael’s Master

Rosemary Flannery, author of The Angels of Paris, has written about the new exhibition Perugino, Maitre de Raphael: Perugino, Raphael’s Master 

The Jacquemart-André Museum is currently hosting a superb exhibition on Italian Renaissance master Perugino.  Born Piero Vannucci circa 1445-1450 to a wealthy family in a small city near Umbria’s capital, Perugia, his early training was in Bartholdi’s workshop. By 1470 he was in Florence, part of Verocchio’s prestigious studio, under the protection of Lorenzo the Magnificent.  The artistic climate was in full ferment; fellow students included da Vinci, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli and Lippi.  Vanucci’s talent, revealed in assured draftsmanship and a refined, elegant style, melded vivacious colors and graceful poses in a serene and beautifully constructed setting.

An early monumental work depicting St Romain and St Roch, full-length portraits with beautifully rendered costumes in contrapposto pose, is a joy to behold: a view of the city of Deruda acts as predella, while the upper panel is adorned with a whimsical draping, infusing the scene with a theatrical touch.

In 1480, he was called to Rome by Pope Sixtus IV to create fresco panels for the Sixtine Chapel. Multitudinous commissions follow from religious orders, the nobility and the wealthy.  Documents reveal that he was an extraordinary businessman and a master of publicity, with a flair for attracting clients and stockpiling commissions. Now known as Perugino, he opens two workshops, one in Perugia, the other in Florence.

Nearly all of his oeuvre was religious; paintings corralled from museums of the Vatican, the Louvre, Washington, London and Florence include numerous, languorous Madonna and Child paintings. To his ‘dolce’ manner - soft and sweet - Perugino adds quirky stylistic touches: headdresses adorning Mary were inspired by his wife Chiara, who posed for him on several occasions. The artist himself enjoyed arranging her hair; the exhibition poster portrays Chiara as a pensive Virgin wearing an elaborate blue hair ribbon, holding the Christ child.

Although not known for his portraiture, one of the great surprises of the exhibition is an extraordinary depiction of Francesco dell Opere.  Hung alongside paintings by contemporaries Rosselli and Botticelli, Perugino’s portrait gleams with psychological insight and perfect physiognomy.  The finesse of the rendering of hair and clothing also make one easily understand why Perugino was the highest paid and most acclaimed painter of his generation. Delle Opere holds an unfurled scroll reading ‘Fear God’, a reference to Savonarola’s sermons.

The fiery preacher’s exhortation for a ‘language of devotion’, simplified and without ornamentation, will find artistic echo in Perugino’s serene, pared-down landscapes such as found in his fine Fano predella depicting the Assumption of Mary.  A mandorla is punctuated with tilted cherubs’ heads, while a pair of delicate angels skate in on small clouds.  Twelve apostles robed in ravishing colors converse, pray and adore against a Tuscan backdrop of hills and trees.
Perugino visited Venice in 1494 and 1496; an exotic influence radiates in his Mary Magadalen, with golden touches on halo and clothing, a new interest in detail of furs and brocades, and the introduction of watery landscapes.  He achieved translucent, crystalline skin tones by adding powdered glass to pigments.

The exhibition includes a low-relief sculpture from Verocchio’s school, as well as work by Perugino’s contemporaries and students, Pinturrichio and Raphael.  Raphael would go on to surpass Perugino, who towards the latter part of his thirty-year career, re-used old drawings for new work, sliding into a repetitive and faded formula.  But Raphael and his master maintained an excellent relationship of mutual teaching.  Perugino died of the plague in 1523 and is buried in Perugia. The 1573 Pietro Vannucci Fine Arts Academy of Perugia honors his memory.

Jacquemart-Andre Museum,
158 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 75008
Metro: Miromesnil
Until January 15th.
Exhibition hours: 10AM-6PM; 8:30PM Mondays and Saturdays

Rosemary Flannery, artist and writer, is the author of Angels of Paris: An Architectural Tour through the History of Paris.

My Paris Apartment for Rent
I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from November 30 to December 16, a total of 17 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator.

The price is 2800 euros/165 per night for 17 nights, 1500 euros for 7 nights, and anything in between 7 & 15 nights, 175 euros per night. Minimum rental 7 nights or 1500 euros. Photos upon request.

Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested.

   New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

 

 

 

 

Tuileries Garden: Where Culture, History and Nature Come Together in Paris

Enjoy today's guest post about the Tuileries Garden.

One of the most remarkable places in the 1st arrondissement of Paris is a public garden known as Tuileries Garden or Jardin des Tuileries in French. The garden separates the famous Louvre Museum from the Place de la Concorde. This beautiful garden was created by Catherine de Medici when she built the Tuileries Palace in 1564 but became a public park soon after the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century. After undergoing numerous changes, Tuileries Garden has turned into a place where Parisians go to celebrate, relax and stroll.

For centuries, Tuileries Garden has been a cultural walking place for Parisians and tourists. Initially, the garden was home to the Tuileries Palace, which was later destroyed in 1871. It was previously reserved for royal families until late eighteenth century when it became open to the public. The garden is rich in art and culture. Generations of artists have received great inspiration by travelling to see the Tuileries Garden. The garden hosts beautiful works of art both classic and contemporary designs.

Among the most famous parts of the garden is Jardin du Carrousel, which was used as a parade ground for popular festivities. This part of the garden contains the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel that was designed to mark the celebration of the victory of Napoleon. In this part of the garden, you will find a collection of 21 statues, which were designed by Aristide Maillol. You will also find a beautiful terrace, which is decorated by two large vases. Other notable landmarks in the garden include two stairways, which descend from the terrace to the moat.

André Le Nôtre, who was a landscape architect, was commissioned by the King of France to redesign the garden in 1664.  The architect had a grand perspective of the garden and gathered hundreds of masons, gardeners and other workers to redesign the garden from 1666 to 1672. In 1667, Tuileries Garden became the first royal garden to be open to the public. However, beggars and soldiers were not allowed to visit the garden. Other modern features like public toilets and food stands were later added.

The Musée de l’Orangerie, which is located at the south west of the garden, is a beautiful place where visitors can go to relax. The Orangerie contains the famous water lily paintings by Monet.  Many tourists visit the garden to go and admire these works of art. One famous sculpture at the Tuileries Garden is the Le Baiser or ‘The Kiss’ which was originally created in 1934 by Auguste Rodin. The sculpture displays a man and woman embracing passionately. Other famous sculptures done by Auguste Rodin, which are showcased at the Tuileries Garden, include Eve, L’Ombre and Méditation avec bras.

Today, the Tuileries Garden is filled with numerous entertainment spots like toy stands, puppet theaters, small boats and lemonade stands. Tourists can take advantage of the free tours to Tuileries Garden organized from March to December. You can visit the grand garden from June to August to enjoy rides and thrills with your family and friends.

France Homestyle, a boutique vacation rental agency, offers unique accommodations near the Tuileries Garden.  Houseboat Concorde, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath floating home, is literally anchored next to the Gardens on Seine River. What could be more unique than experiencing Paris on a riverboat within walking distant to the Louvre, Tuileries, and Musée d’Orsay in the 1st Arrondissement?  St. Anne Two Bedroom apartment is located in the Right Bank in the 2nd Arrondissement centrally located to all that Paris has to offer on the lively Rue St. Anne. This Paris flat is impeccably furnished in a historic building with an outside terrace and open views towards Montmartre.   On the other side of the Seine in the Left Bank is Rue de Seine Studio apartment, also one bedroom and one bath, but this Pied-à-terre has access to a private rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the City of Lights.

 

   New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

125th Anniversary of the Eiffel Tower

Today is the 125th Anniversary of the opening day of the Eiffel Tower. To commemorate the occasion, Jill Jonnes, author of the marvelously entertaining book about the building of the Eiffel Tower, Eiffel’s Tower, has written a post today about her two favorite 19th century Eiffel Tower moments. Look out next week for a new Eye Prefer Paris Contest about the Eiffel Tower, where I will be giving away two copies of Eiffel’s Tower.

Photo courtesy of Otis Elevator archives

When Eiffel Began to Build The Tower:
All of elite Paris sent up a howl when rich railroad bridge engineer Gustave Eiffel actually began erecting what was to be the tallest structure in the world. Eiffel had won the competition to erect a 900-foot-tall tower as the fabulous centerpiece of the 1889 Exposition Universelle.

In a still-famous letter published in Le Temps, forty-seven of the nation’s cultural heavyweights compared the Tower (only its foundation had yet been completed but everyone had seen the drawings) to a “black and gigantic factory chimney, crushing [all] beneath its barbarous mass…When foreigners visit our Exposition they will cry out in astonishment, ‘Is it this horror that the French have created to give us an idea of their vaunted taste?’” To drive home the utter hideousness of “this odious column of bolted metal,” these cultural lions  declared in their letter, “even commercial America would not have” this “Eiffel Tower.”

In truth, Americans were deeply jealous and unhappy, for an Old World nation was about to take the technological lead: Eiffel’s Tower would displace the 550-foot-tall Washington Monument as the world’s tallest building.

Deliciously, by the time the Eiffel Tower was finished, Gustave and his creation were world famous and all those snooty Parisian painters and writers had fallen in love with it, and could think of no better place to see and be seen than its fashionable first-platform bistros. Except for Guy de Maupassant, who never came round.

June 29, 1889 issue of Punch Magazine Library of Congress

When Thomas Edison Ascended the Tower
The great American inventor was no traveler, but at age 42 he decided he and his young second wife should sail to France with their entourage to enjoy the 1889 Paris World’s Fair, where his companies had a huge exposition space, and the public patiently waited in line for hours to hear three-minutes of recorded sound for the first time.

On Tuesday August 13, 1889, Edison, escorted by Eiffel’s son-in-law (Gustave was away at a spa), ascended to the top of the Eiffel Tower where he ran into a group of fellow Americans – none other than the Sioux Indians, adored by the French for their performances that summer at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show out in Neuilly! Right then and there atop the tower, Chief Rocky Bear led those dozen Indians, all attired in fringed buckskins, their long hair beaded and feathered, in a series of songs and war whoops in honor of meeting this famous man! Edison was taken aback, but ever jocular, inquired after Sitting Bull.

Margaret Upton, on her honeymoon with one of Edison’s top corporate officers, wrote back to her mother that all the Edison group was then invited into “Mr. Eiffel’s private salon up there and served the very daintiest luncheon you ever saw of chicken and truffle sandwiches not an eighth of an inch thick, cakes, and bon-bons, and the finest of wines which Mademoiselle herself poured to the guests.” This was the first of several Edison visits to the tower.

If you have the patience to wait in the lines and ascend the to the top of the Eiffel Tower today, Thomas Edison is still there! He’s immortalized in a rather hideous waxen version, eternally enjoying yet another lovely moment from the summer of 1889 – when he finally did meet Gustave Eiffel and presented him the gift of a phonograph.

Click here to order Eiffel's Tower on Amazon

http://eiffelstower.com

I was quoted in New York Magazine in an article about the Marais written by Tim Murphy
http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/05/know-a-neighborhood-pariss-haut-marais.html

Sioux Indians pose at Neuilly camp Denver Public Library

Paris fair goers in 1889 hear recorded sound from L'Illustration

Thomas Edison with Eiffel's son-in-law Edison Archives

 

   New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

Popular Casinos in Paris

Today's post is written by Max Ballard

Paris is the largest and most famous city in France, with its many great sites to see like the Eiffel Tower and Arc d’Triomphe it is no wonder why people love to visit the well cultured city.

Something that you might not expect to find in the city is a tradition with gambling though as the city has eight glorious casinos located within its limits, more than any other city in France.

One reason why there are these great casinos in Paris is because of Frances’ love of poker, with many of these casinos in Paris having some of the most exclusive poker rooms in them.

Aviation Club de France was founded over a hundred years ago in 1907 and has maybe the most famous member’s only poker rooms in Paris. The club only contains 20 poker tables but is open 24/7 and has a membership fee of €150 a year. It is found on the Champs-Elysees not too far from the Arc de Triomphe. The club hosts some of the greatest players in poker to come to their venue and play the biggest cash games in the world such as the Grand Prix de Paris Poker Tournament as well as the World Poker Tournament. There are other places in Paris that have been offering this luxury in poker rooms for over a century as well though such as The Cercle Gaillon that is found just around the corner from the Aviation Club. Paris does offer some other traditional games like blackjack however, they do not have any kinds of slot machine in the casinos within the city. So if this is what you are looking for from your casino visits then Paris will not supply what you want. The easy answer to this though is to go online and play these games at sites like http://www.luckynuggetcasino.com/au/online-pokies where you will find a massive variety of slots available for you to play straight away.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

Paris Getaway

Today is a guest post about some interesting sites around Paris.

From the ‘city of love’ to the ‘fashion capital of the world’, Paris has a number of guises, but if you’ve ever visited this city before, then you’ll know that they are all true! As the capital of France, Paris is a hub for French and European culture, and it sees millions of tourists flocking through its train stations and airports every year.

If you’re thinking of visiting Paris for a weekend, then there are many unmissable attractions to keep your interest, however just like many of the world’s top cities, a short tip to the capital can cost an arm and a leg – unless you find flights to Paris on this site that is. Loosen the purse strings this year, and check out these top free attractions during your vacation of a lifetime Paris!

Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris

From gothic touches to scary gargoyles, the Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris is a spectacular sight to behold. Not only is it free to enter, but there are even complementary tours available if you book in advance. The cathedral has been an imposing monument on the Parisian skyline for hundreds of years, and its medieval architecture simply can’t be missed.

 Le Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen

There’s no doubt that Paris is a fantastic city to visit, so why not spend a day touring the luxury stores and markets of the capital to experience the French culture up close. From antique stores and flea markets to street food vendors and historic restaurants, there’s plenty to see and do along the cobbled streets of Paris, and although the price of fashion may raise an eyebrow or two, be sure to stop off at a traditional café for a coffee, or visit one of the many fresh bakeries for an authentic French pastry!

Parc Monceau

There are a number of free attractions in Paris, however this beautiful park is easily one of the best. If you follow French entertainment, then the Parc Monceau is great for celebrity spotting, mainly because the paths next to the river are such a relaxing and tranquil walk. This park also has a detailed history; not only was it Monet’s favourite place to paint, but in 1871 it was the site of a devastating massacre. Bring a picnic and sit beside the water, or simply enjoy the magnificent statues of Parc Monceau as you stroll through.

Le Champ de Mars

The Eiffel Tower is one of the top attractions in Paris, however if you’re not looking to pay the fee to get to the top, the views from Le Champ de Mars are just as impressive. With beautiful lawns, sweeping fields of trees and lights that magically illuminate the landscape at night, the view of the tower is arguably more glorious from the ground looking up. During the day, bring a picnic and a bottle of bubbly to share with your loved one, and enjoy you the relaxing surroundings during your weekend in Paris.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour